Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Wired!

Many thanks to my friend Alan Runfeldt of the Excelsior Press for having numerous printer's supply catalogs laying around and allowing me to borrow them. In two I found ads for my No. 8 National wire stitcher.

The top scan is from the circa 1950's New York Type Distributors catalog. They were located at 579 Broadway in New York City: just phone Canal 6-6767.

The second scan is from the Zimmer Printer's Supply catalog from 1969. Their main office was at 225 Varick St. in New York City with a sales office in Boston and an executive office in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Orders can be placed by cable using the code: Zimsupco

Don't you just love old catalogs? The information in these two ads tells me virtually everything I need to know regarding the stitcher. Capacity, speed, and clear enough graphics to allow me to reconstruct accurately the table gauge. Fortunately one of the end slides was still attached so I can use it for scale and general construction.

I now need some wire. If anyone has any 5 pound spools of wire they don't need, aren't using, or wish to donate please let me know. Older wooden spools are especially welcome!




1 comment:

Maggie at Gamewell Press said...

Wow, you've been busy. Congratulations on the wire stitcher and new computer! It's so nice to have new toys. Did you find any spools of wire yet?
I too love old catalogs, pretty much of any kind. They're just so much more informative than those today, but at the same time less busy or tacky.
Today at work I found that the Sears Roebuck company has digitized parts of the old ads for their Modern Homes catalog. They used to sell (until 1940) model home kits, including plans, instructions, precut wood, shingles, and drywall. It's fun. (http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/ if you're interested).
-Maggie